“It's very sad, it's very unfortunate,” Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program Director Amila Merdzanovic said, referring to the states that are not welcoming Syrian refugees.

But she said Vermont is lucky to have a governor who is.

“They are fleeing for their safety. And it is our responsibility to open our hearts as the president said and our doors to them and to offer them safety,” Merdzanovic said.

Gov. Shumlin said Vermont is open and to see other states trying to close their doors is heartless.

“What has this country become? Where have we left our values, our sense of morality and our sense of justice and the right thing to do?” Shumlin said.

Shumlin said he's proud that Vermont is part of the Refugee Resettlement Program and the compassion and dignity in the state.

“We have a great track record. You know that 80 percent of the immigrants that make it to Vermont have a job shortly after coming here,” Shumlin said.

Sen. Patrick Leahy also released a statement on the controversy.

“Those who call now to slam our doors on even properly vetted Syrian refugees should remember that the people we will shut out are those very children who touched our hearts just weeks ago," Leahy said. "ISIS is our enemy. The Syrian people fleeing ISIS are not.”

Merdzanovic said there are currently no Syrian refugees in Vermont, but expects that to change.

“The plan for this fiscal year, which started October 1, is to resettle some Syrian refugees. How many and when they will come we don't know,” Merdzanovic said.